Louisiana man arrested in hit-and-run death of former Deerfield Beach resident

In Louisiana for only a month, she was killed by hit-and-run driver while trying to help another accident victim

February 16, 2010|By Alexia Campbell, Sun Sentinel

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana authorities have arrested the driver they believe hit and killed a former Deerfield Beach resident who had stopped to help another driver.

Authorities tracked down and arrested Christian Cvitanovich, 33, at his home outside New Orleans on Feb. 10 -- more than a week after he allegedly fled the scene of the crash that killed 20-year-old Mikel Carson.

Cvitanovich is charged with negligent homicide, felony hit and run and reckless operation, according to Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Kelly.

Police say Cvitanovich was driving the 2005 Ford Expedition they believe struck Carson and hurled her 200 feet into the brush along Interstate 10, Kelly said. Carson had stopped to help another driver who had been hit by a car moments before.

The body of the Pompano Beach High graduate wasn't spotted until sunrise. Days later, the dented SUV that allegedly struck her was found at a New Orleans auto body shop. Employees there said Cvitanovich told them he had hit a deer, Kelly said.

"Cleary he didn't strike a deer, he struck a human being," Kelly said.

After his arrest, Cvitanovich was held at a Jefferson Parish jail for five days before Baton Rouge Police picked him up. He was booked Monday night at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, and was released Tuesday on a $350 bond amount, court records show.

Carson moved a month ago to pursue a nursing degree at Southeastern Louisiana University, her family said. She wanted to become a psychologist.